Around the world, there is a need for more sustainable and environmentally friendly construction materials. See how scientists took inspiration from termite mounds to create alternative building materials that are stronger and more environmentally friendly than traditional clay bricks. (There are two versions of this article for lower and higher reading levels).

Read more at the Science Journal for Kids: What can termites teach us about better building materials?

Infection with the microscopic parasite Toxoplasma gondii is associated with increased risk-taking in rodents, wolves, and even humans.

Read more about how - and why - this parasite manipulates its hosts’ behavior in my article for National Geographic: This Parasite Manipulates the Minds of Wolves, Rats - Maybe Even You.

Octopuses are usually thought of as loners. But recent research suggests that some species show a variety of social behaviors when sharing space with others. Now, researchers report a new behavior: throwing debris, sometimes at other octopuses.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: 8 Arms to Throw Things at You.

When living in a social group, it pays to keep the peace. Conflict resolution is an important aspect of the social lives of many animals, human and otherwise - but what about domestic pigs? In a new study, researchers from the University of Torino investigated how a group of 104 pigs housed at the ethical farm Parva Dormus resolves conflict after fighting.

Read what they found at my Animal Minds blog: Bystander Pigs Get Involved to Maintain Social Harmony.

Don Buckingham, MBOE, CPHQ, CSSBB, joined Nationwide Children’s Center for Clinical Excellence as a quality strategist eight years ago. In a Q&A, he shares how he leveraged his background in industry and business services improvement in projects for the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement (QI) Collaborative, which was established by the T1D Exchange clinic network to improve care delivery for people with type 1 diabetes.

Read the Q&A here: How Quality Improvement Can Expand Insulin Pump Use and More.